Belgium announces border checks in migration clampdown
BRUSSELS: Belgium will introduce border checks on people coming into the country to clamp down on illegal migration, the government said, in another limit on free movement across Europe's Schengen zone.
The restrictions in the country that borders the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany will start this summer, a spokesperson for the junior minister for migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, said on Friday.
'Time for entry controls. Belgium must not be a magnet for those stopped elsewhere. Our message is clear: Belgium will no longer tolerate illegal migration and asylum shopping,' Van Bossuyt wrote on X.
The announcement follows similar moves by the Netherlands and Germany, part of a broader crackdown on migration across the continent, even as numbers of arrivals on many major routes have shown signs of falling.
'The checks will be carried out in a targeted manner on major access roads such as motorway car parks, on bus traffic ... on certain trains ... and on intra-Schengen flights from countries with high migration pressure, such as Greece and Italy,' a Belgian government statement said late on Thursday.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever, in office since February, has said curbing migration is a key priority for his right-leaning government.
Belgium is part of the open-border Schengen area which guarantees free travel between its 29 member states. Under article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code, members can temporarily reinstate border checks in response to security or migration pressures.
A spokesperson for the Belgian Immigration Office said it was difficult to give figures for illegal immigration at the moment without the systematic border checks.
Belgium, one of the world's richest countries, received 39,615 asylum applications in 2024, 11.6 percent more than in 2023, numbers from the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers show.
The country had the capacity to take in 35,600 applicants in 2024, according to the figures, leaving many arrivals without proper accommodation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
41 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Zambia's Ex-President Lungu Will Be Buried in South Africa Due to Family's Feud With Zambia
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu will be buried in South Africa instead of his homeland because of a disagreement between his family and Zambia's government over his funeral. Lungu died from an undisclosed illness at a hospital in South Africa early this month, and the process to repatriate his body for burial in Zambia has been marred by a bitter feud between his family and the current Zambian government. It included the family's demand that Lungu's political rival and current President Hakainde Hichilema should not attend his funeral. The spokesperson and lawyer for the Lungu family, Makebi Zulu, said the decision to bury him in South Africa is in accordance with the family's wishes for a private ceremony. 'We would especially like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for their respectful support and for honoring the family's decision to hold a private funeral and burial here in South Africa,' Zulu said. On Thursday, Hichilema, in a televised address to the nation, canceled the 16-day national mourning that he had declared earlier. 'Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning,' he said. 'We have done everything possible to engage the family of our departed sixth Republican President, and we have reached a point where a clear decision has to be made.' Hichilema also apologized to the South African government for the inconvenience. Lungu, 68, had ruled the southern African country from 2015 to 2021, when he lost power to Hichilema. He remained an influential figure in Zambian politics ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Lungu and Hichilema were bitter rivals. Their conflict culminated in Hichilema's imprisonment in 2017 when Lungu was president. Hichilema was accused of treason after his motorcade failed to give way to Lungu's presidential convoy. Last year, Lungu accused Hichilema's government of using police to harass him and restrict his movements. His family also said the government had initially prevented him from traveling to South Africa for treatment–a charge the government denied.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Putin says Russia plans to deepen military-technical ties with ‘friendly countries'
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia intends to develop military and technical cooperation with 'friendly countries' with whom Moscow wants to jointly produce arms and train military personnel. In a speech at Russia's showcase economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin said Moscow also planned to modernize its own armed forces and their bases by equipping them with the latest weapons and technology. 'We will harness new technology to improve the combat capabilities of the Russian armed forces, modernize military infrastructure facilities, (and) equip them with the latest technology and weapons and equipment,' he said. 'At the same time, we intend to develop military-technical co-operation with friendly countries. And we are talking not only about supplies or the modernization of equipment and weapons, but also about joint development, personnel training, and the creation of turn-key enterprises and production facilities,' he said. Talking about global trade, Putin said Russia planned to develop trade ties with its partners by removing barriers, opening up market niches and deepening investment cooperation.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Romania's New President Nominates Center-Right Former Mayor as Prime Minister
Romania's new pro-Western president on Friday nominated a center-right former mayor to be prime minister as the European Union and NATO member state seeks to usher in a new government to end a protracted political crisis that has gripped the nation since last year. President Nicusor Dan nominated 56-year-old Ilie Bolojan of the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) after a fresh round of talks Friday following weeks of deliberations. Bolojan previously served as acting president between February and May when Dan decisively beat a hard-right opponent in a heated presidential election rerun. That closely watched vote came months after the previous election was annulled by a top court, which plunged Romania into a deep political crisis. At the presidential Cotroceni Palace in the capital, Bucharest, Dan said Bolojan is the most suitable person for the job, which includes tackling a budget crisis. 'It is in Romania's interest for the government to be supported by a solid majority, and the parties have understood this,' Dan said. 'Romania's urgent priority is economic recovery, but … you need a solid foundation.' The president's nomination will need to be approved by lawmakers. A new government is expected to be comprised of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), the PNL, the reformist Save Romania Union party, and the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party. The PSD has pushed for a power-sharing agreement that would see a rotation of the prime ministerial post. After he was nominated, Bolojan said he's fully aware of the great responsibility the role will bring and acknowledged it will not be an easy undertaking. 'I will continue discussions with political parties to secure a parliamentary majority, finalize the government, and define the governing program,' he said. 'I will pursue three priorities: to restore order to the country's finances, to work toward good governance that creates conditions for development in Romania, and … to show proper respect to the Romanian people.' One of the biggest issues a new government will face is how to reduce Romania's large budget deficit – one of the highest in the 27-nation EU bloc. The presidential election furore also exposed deep societal divisions in the country. Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant, says that a new government will face the challenge of reaching a longer-term consensus over already delayed state reforms. 'There is only a disputed agreement on very short-term measures for the economic and budget crisis,' he told The Associated Press. 'If the short-term measures come with a social cost, inflation … (and) will not be met by profound changes in policies and institutions, then the political crisis will loom over the next years and (future) elections.' After the first round of the May presidential vote, Bolojan, as acting president, appointed Catalin Predoiu of the PNL to helm the government following the resignation of Marcel Ciolacu, who stepped down after his coalition's candidate failed to make the runoff.
